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All you need is love
We have love for ourselves, our families, our god(s), our friends, our business associates, and other human beings in general. Some of us also have love for our team, our company, our country. Many of us have love for our planet. They say that love is what makes the world go round.
And money?
Our needs as human beings may be few or they may be endless. There is an argument for both cases – but there is nothing in our dna that points to a need for a dollar bill. So along with money we need the satisfaction of a task well done and usually something more: respect, attention, affection, praise, maybe even friendship and belonging...let’s just lump it all together and call it love.
The full circle
Your customer, your vendor, and you -- the full circle. Can you identify what each person you work with needs from you - other than money? What's the "love" they are working for? Some might need a kind word, a good laugh, sage advice, a hug, a personal conversation, your time, and some may need your trust, your loyalty, or a long term friendship. And almost everyone needs to know their work is valued - both the finished product and the thought, labor and often love that went into it.
Your vendors
Do the people who provide you with services want more than money from you and do you have a need to give them more than money? Do you need to tell them what a great job they're doing? Do you feel the need to know them better? To trust and depend on them? Know about them and their families, their needs, dreams and goals? Help them grow? Do they need to receive all of these things from you?
Your employees
If your employees were being paid all the money they desired, they would still need some additional things from you in order to be happy -- a pat on the back, mentoring, kudos and compliments. They want to know that you care about them and their families, that you care when they are ill or stressed. And you may feel the need to give your employees all of those very same things.
You and your customer
Are you getting what you need out of your own service to your customer? Are you overloaded and wondering how you can shave time from your customer service hours? Is this satisfying for you? You may get more out of asking "what can I do to help YOU -- how can I take some of the load off of YOUR shoulders?" even though your own load is also heavy.
Keep giving
So when times are tough and money seems like the most important object during your business interaction, remember what money alone can't buy. Whether your customer is bigger or smaller, richer or poorer – give a little extra! That's the way to happiness, abundance, prosperity and success...for both of you.
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